Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-03-18
THE GRoUNDLEss SCARE.
DIR. j. Campbell Shorb Considers
the Danger Over.

DIR, u. Ca mpbeIt SmOrD ConeAucAs
the Danger Over.
Los ANGELES, CAL, March II, 1887.
EDITOR HERALD = Important profes.
sional engagements calling me at this
time to Los Angeles, and prepared, from
accounts read in the various papers of
San Francisco in reference to prevalence
and vlruience of an epidemic of small.
pox reported with great circumstantial
detail in this city and county. antici.
pated any danger or trouble to friends
and myself growing out of an exposure
here, by vaccinating the party with
whom was for the time travelling. The
precaution taken was wise one-if orly
a solitary case were diagnosed as in
progress in this city. But on my arrival
here, which preceded the visit of the
State Board of Health only six hours,
l discovered that there had been gross,
and may add, cruel exaggeration about
this visitation of smallpox, which from
the time of its appearance here up to the
pre- sent hour has numbered as victims
but tx persons, two belonging to native
population of this State or their de.
scendents and two strangers (Amercans)
| from the East and without families.
The nationality or circumstances OF
| the other two have not been able to
determine up to the present writing.
had the pleasure of meeting DR.. K.
Beverly Cole, one of the most prominent
| and scientific members of the State
Board OF Health, on the street this after.
noon, and he assured me, and more than
that, kindly allowed me permission to
use his name in this connection. that
nothing he had said or done since his ar.
rival here last Sunday could be construed
into an acknowledgment to the public
that there was anything here like an
epidemic of smallpox.
Since Sunday last, four days, but one
new case, and that SO mild as scarcely
to suggest confinement to house or bed,
has been reported, and it Is safe and
reasonable to conclude that whatever
danger did exist here is surely over and
Los Angeles left in peace to accomplish
the splendid destiny towards which she
was moving with marvellous precision
and momentum when this cry OF small
pcx, which was loude in San Francisco
than anywhere this side of the San Fer
nando tunnel, for the moment arrested
her wonderful development.
Ny statements tonight are based upon
information derived from Hon. Thos.
Rowan, who is Chairman of the Board
OF Supervisors here, who is In daily con-
tact and consultation with the City Ply.
sician having this visitation in hand, and
who is as well known in San Francisco
as almost any gentleman from the south
ern country.
l cannot understand the inspiration
that lead to false or grossly exaggerated
reports on this subject that we find here,
filing the columns of the daily papers
in San Francisco.
The southern routes from the East are
at this time without any question the
favorites for tourists and those coming
here to build permanent homes, and
surely, q smallpox scare in the southern
country, developed on paper. purely in
San Francisco. would necessarily keep
thousands away from that city, and
thousands of dollars in the bargain, for
the reason that their safety would force
them to shun stricken region-one full
OF danger on their journey to the metrop-
oils, or further north. The northern
route, at this season, with the danger of
snow blockades, bridge and shed de-
struction, is wisely avoided, and if the
papers go cruelty to work to blockade
with pestilence the only pleasant route
left open to California, every portion of
the State will suffer material damage
until the press, with its mighty voice,
shall proclaim the truth, the whole
truth, and nothing but the truth.
If / can in any way serve you, you
are ct liberty to command me for the
next four days.
J. G. SHORE.